Cloth feeding device for unwinding and laying up machines



March 17, 1942. H. w. GILBERT CLOTHFEEDING DEVICE FOR UNWINDING AND LAYING UP MACHINES Filed April 29, 1941 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HERMAN Mum 4mm 1 ATTORNEY.

March 17, 1942. H, WQGILBERT' 2,276,479

CLOTH FEEDING DEVICE FOR UNWINDING AND LAYING UP MACHINES Filed April 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 7 u 52 I 7 F310 3333 INVENTOR. I, .2 /LBERT 9 1111:: BY m E2 5 1 H j 42 flTTORh/EY,

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 CLOTH FEEDING DEVICE FOR UNWINDIN G AND LAYING UP MACHINES Herman Walter Gilbert, Kew Gardens, N. Y. Application April 29, 1941, Serial No. 390,901

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cloth laying up machines, cloth unwinding machines, and similar equipment.

More particularly, the invention proposes cloth feeding devices for equipment as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

In the form of the invention which is applied to cloth laying up machines it is proposed to so construct the feeding device that it feeds the cloth at the same rate and in one direction as the lineal speed of the reciprocal carriage of the machine as it is moved in either direction.

In another form of the invention, it is proposed to characterize the cloth feeding device, when applied to unwinding machines, by an arrangement for feeding the cloth at predetermined speeds.

An important advantage of applying the cloth feeding device to cloth laying up machines, cloth unwinding machines and similar equipment resides in the fact that this equipment maybe used to unwind or lay up cloth materials which should not be stretched, or subjected to material stretching stresses.

Still further it is proposed to characterize the cloth feeding device by a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a prime mover and a transmission system from said prime mover to the rollers for turning said rollers simultaneously in one direction. When the cloth feeding devices are applied to cloth laying up machines it is proposed that the prime mover comprise a wheel of the cloth laying up machine which usually engages the table upon which the machine is reciprocally mounted. It is further proposed that in those instances in which the cloth feeding devices are applied to unwinding machines that the prime mover comprise an electric motor, preferably of variable speed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are mor particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a cloth laying up machine provided with a cloth feeding device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view looking in the direction of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking in the direction of the line 11 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an unwinding machine provided with a cloth feeding device constructed in accordance with this invention, this section being as though taken onthe line 9-9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the unwinding machine shown in Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the line I 0-! 0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line ll-II of Fig. 10.

In the form of the invention illustrated in 2 Figs. 1-8 inclusive, a cloth feeding device constructed in accordance with this invention is shown applied to a laying up machine l5. As the details of the cloth laying up machine form no part of this invention they will be omitted from this specification, particularly in view of the fact that such machines are generally known in the trade. laying up machine l5 be provided with a reciprocal carriage It having a wheel I! engaging a table element #8 so as to turn in one direction or the other, depending upon which direction said carriage is being moved. The table element l8 may comprise a track on the table, or the table surface, depending merely upon the design of the machine. The particular machine schematically shown in Fig. 1 includes the usual cloth gripper devices l9 mounted upon the table H3, at the ends of the strokes of reciprocation of the carriage l6. Since these gripper devices are generally known in the trade, and form no part of the present invention, the details thereof will be omitted. q

The cloth feeding device, in accordance with this invention, includes a plurality of support elements or rollers 20 rotatively mounted onthe carriage l6 and arranged so as to have their axes parallel with each other and in arcuate formation, as clearly shown in Figs, 1 and 4,50 as to be capable of supporting 2| which is to be laid by thelaying up machine,

However, it'is necessary that the cloth a roll of cloth material While the drawings illustrate but three rollers 20, it should be clearly understood that more or less may be used. The web 22 from the roll of cloth 2| is illustrated extended upwards over the cloth guiding means, not shown in detail, of the cloth laying up machine l5. A plurality of endless members or bands 23 are mounted transversely across and in grooves 20b of the rolls 20 to assist in holding the roll of cloth 2|. These bands 23 maybe provided in suitable numerical quantities at suitable spaced positions from each other so as to support the roll of cloth 2| without having portions bellying downwards between the rollers 20. Means. is. provided for driving the rollers 2|) in one direction at speeds calculated to feed the web22 from the roll 2| at the same speed as the lineal speed of travel of the carriage of the laying up machine during use.

The means referred to at the end of the previous paragraph, includes a rotative shaftv 24 mounted upon thecarriage l5.- Atransmission fromthe wheel "connects with the shaft 24 and includes means for causing said shaft 24 to rotatein one direction at speeds in proportion to thespeed of. said wheelal 1 while turning in one or the other direction as the carriage I6 is reciprocated during use. This transmission includes a gear 25 coaxially fixedly mounted on the wheel Hand of a slightly smaller diameter than the wheel I! so that the outer diameter of thegear 25 does not contact the table IS;

The means for causing the shaft 24 to rotate in one direction, as stated,-.,comprises a double clutch consisting of a relatively wide inner clutch member 26 having several peripheral cutouts 21 over which gear wheel 28 and 29'rotatively. engage. Each cutout 21 is providedwith a ball 30. Each cutout 27 has a low end and ahigh end arranged relatively in the same direction, and so constructed that when the balls 30 are in the deep portions of the cutouts the gear wheels are free to turn; and. when in the shallow portions, they will catch. The'inner member 26 is secured to the shaft 24 .by-a key 3|. The gear 28 directly meshes with the gear 25. The gear 29 meshes with an idler gear 32 rotatively supported on a stud 33-mounted on the carriage l6. This idler 32 meshes with the gear 25. The arrangement is such that when the wheel turns in one direction the gears 28 and 29 will turn in opposite directions. However, only one of these gears will have its rotations transmitted to the shaft 24 because of the construction of said transmitting double clutch.

A transmision is also provided from the shaft 24 to turn the rollers 20 in one direction at speeds in proportion to the speed of the wheel turning in either direction. This transmission system includes a pulley 35 mounted on the shaft 24 and engaged by a belt 35 which is supported by apair of spaced rotatively mounted idler pulleys 31 mounted on the carriage l6. These idler pulleys are so positioned that a section 36a of the belt 35 engages tightlyagainst the bottom sides of pulleys 38 mounted upon the ends 20a of therollers 20. The construction is. suchthat the belt- 36 transmits the rotations from the shaft 24 indirectly to the rollers 29.

The operation of the device is as followszfl The cloth laying up machine |5 is usedin the conventional way. However, simultaneously with its operation, the clothfeeding device'functions so as to feed out the web- 22 :fromth'e cloth roll. 2| at the same. speed as :the lineal speed 1 of:

the carriage l6 of the cloth laying up machine. This will eliminate any stretching tendencies of the web 22 while it is being laid up by the cloth laying up machine.

When the carriage H5 is reciprocated, the wheel I! will be correspondingly turned. This wheel will turn in direct proportion to the speed and distance that the carriage I6 is being moved. The rotations from the wheel H are transmitted to the double clutch shown particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 so as to drive the shaft 24 in one direction, at a speed in proportion to the rotations of the Wheel IT in either direction. The rotations'fromthe shaft 24 are transmitted indirectly to the rollers 20. Since the rollers 20 support the roll of cloth 2|, the cloth roll 2| will turn and'thus the cloth web 22 will be fed out. The transmission systems are so designed that the cloth web 22 will be fed at the same lineal speed as the lineal speed of reciprocation of the carriage .|6;

In Figs. 9 to ll-inclusive a modified form of the invention has'been disclosed. In this form of the invention the cloth feeding device is applied to a cloth unwinding machine, generally indicated by reference numeral 48. The details of this unwinding machine will not be given in this specification 'as it forms no part of the invention and similar devices are generally known in the trade. However, the cloth unwinding machine 40 is characterized by a frame 4| across which a plurality of support elements or rollers 42 are rotatively mounted. These support elements or rollers 42 are arranged in an arcuate formation so as'to support a roll of cloth, schematically indicated by reference numeral 43, which is being unwound on the unwinding machine. The web 44 from the roll of cloth 43-is shown extended upwards and engaged over a roller 45 of the unwinding machine- The cloth feeding device, in accordance with this invention, includes a prime mover 45, such as an electric motor preferably of variable speed. A transmission system is provided from the prime mover 46 to rotate the rollers 42 simultaneously, and. in one direction. This transmission system includes a pulley 4'|"on the shaft of the motor 46 and engagedby an endless belt 48 which engages over several idler pulleys 49 rotatively mounted on the frame of the cloth unwinding machine. The endless belt48'has a section 480 which extends beneathand engagesa1 plurality of pulleys 50 which aremounted on the end portions 42a of therollers42. The arrangement is such that rotations'from the motor 46- is transmitted to simultaneously rotate the pulleys 50in one direction, and these rotations are transmitted tothe roller-s 42.

The'rollers 42 are provided with a plurality of endless membersor bands5| engaged transversely thereof. These bands 5| are merely for the purpose of facilitating the support of the roll of cloth 43 without allowingportion of the roll to sag in the areas between the rollers 42.

At'thepoints wherethe bands 5| engage the rollers 42, the rollers 42-are-formed with grooves- These grooves are'of l a depth correspond- 52. mg to theth'ickness of the material from which the bands 5| are constructed: The grooves 52- preventthe bands 5| from shiftingalong the lengths of th'e rollers 42. However, inpractice thegrooves 52may be omitted, if desired;

The operation of the device is as follows: A roll .01 iclothl 43 isplaced on the. unwinding machine. andatheweb; 44 Zis. extended upwards.-

Heretofore it was customary to pull the web 44 to unwind the roll 43. However, with certain types of cloth this pulling operation is objectionable. In accordance with this invention it is merely necessary to set the electric motor it into operation. This will cause the rollers 42 to turn and feed out the web 44 at a predetermined speed. This speed may be equal to the speed at which it is desired to unwind the roll 43 or may be slightly less than this speed so that a small amount of pull on the web 44 is necessary. However this operation is merely a matter of taste. The important feature resides in the fact that the web 44 is being fed without the requirement of a pull upon it.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a prime mover, a transmission system from said prime mover to said rollers for turning said rollers simultaneously in one direction, and an endless member engaged over said rollers for assisting in supporting said roll of cloth.

2. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a plurality of support elements rotatively mounted and arranged in an arcuate formation, a prime mover, a transmission system from said prime mover to said support elements for turning said support elements simultaneously in one direction, and an endless member engaged over said support elements for supporting a roll of cloth.

3. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a prime mover, a transmission system from said prime mover to said rollers for turning said rollers simultaneously in one direction, and bands engaged over said rollers for assisting in supporting said roll of cloth.

4. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a reciprocal carriage provided with a wheel engaging a table element so as to turn in one direction or the other depending upon which direction said carriage is being moved, a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted on said carriage and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a rotative shaft on said carriage, a transmission from said wheel to said shaft and including means for causing said shaft to rotate in one direction at speeds in proportion to the speed of said wheel while turning in one or the other directions, a transmission system from said shaft to said rollers for turning said rollers in one direction at speeds in proportion to the lineal speed of motion of said carriage, and a plurality of bands engaged over said rollers for assisting in supporting said roll of cloth.

5. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a reciprocal carriage provided with a wheel engaging a table element so as to turn in one direction or the other depending upon which direction said carriage is being moved, a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted on said carriage and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a rotative shaft on said carriage, a transmission from said wheel to said shaft and including means for causing said shaft to rotate in one direction at speeds in proportion to the speed of said wheel while turning in one or the other directions, and a transmission system from said shaft to said rollers for turning said rollers in one direction at speeds in proportion to the lineal speed of motion of said carriage, comprising a pulley coaxially mounted on each roller, an endless belt having a portion engaging against the sides of said pulleys, and a pulley on said rotative shaft engaging said endless belt for driving it.

6. In a cloth handling machine of the class described having a reciprocal carriage provided with a wheel engaging a table element so as to turn in one direction or the other depending upon which direction said carriage is being moved, a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted on said carriage and arranged in an arcuate formation to support a roll of cloth, a rotative shaft on said carriage, a transmission from said wheel to said shaft and including means for causing said shaft to rotate in one direction at speeds in proportion to the speed of said wheel while turning in one or the other directions, and a transmission system from said shaft to said rollers for turning said rollers in one direction at speeds in proportion to the lineal speed of motion of said carriage, comprising a pulley coaxially mounted on each roller, an endless belt having a portion engaging against the sides of said pulleys, and a pulley on said rotative shaft engaging said endless belt for driving it, and idler pulleys assisting in supporting said endless belt so as to support said section engaging said pulleys.

HERMAN WALTER GILBERT. 

